When designing a playground, you’re faced with countless goals: you want to create something that will engage visitors of all ages and abilities, you want to add to the curb appeal of your community, and you want it to last for generations of use. By using modular playground equipment to create open play paths, you’re able to accomplish all this and more.
Modular playground equipment is play equipment designed to fit together in a variety of ways. Whether it’s rope climbers, post and platform structures, or motion play equipment, these pieces all come together to create one interconnected play experience that allows visitors to play without interruption.
All of Playworld’s product lines—RopeScapes®, PlayHills®, and even our post and platform structures—are modular to create one endless System of Play. Thanks to multigenerational design and high-quality craftsmanship, our products also allow for your entire community to join in on the adventure for years to come.
By featuring a diverse offering of equipment on your playground, you’re able to provide kids with a real choice in how they move throughout the space. Modular play equipment allows you to create a truly distinct layout that has kids navigating through rope nets, traversing across flextread, and engaging in sensory play—all without having to interrupt their adventure by leaving one piece of equipment to go to the next.
Modular playgrounds also allow for a distinct and engaging play experience no matter your project’s footprint or budget. In addition to being able to choose the equipment or configuration that work best for your community, modular play equipment provides the opportunity to build your playground in phases or pursue expansion in the future.
Open, unstructured play occurs when there is no predetermined path or instructions for kids to follow. Instead, the equipment’s design encourages them to create a play path on their own terms. This provides a variety of long-term benefits, including:
In open play, kids are able to use their instincts to climb, slide, and interact on the playground. In addition to building their physical skills, allowing kids to choose their next move for themselves strengthens their decision-making skills, increases their creativity, and inspires natural interactions with their peers.
When kids are able to choose how and where they want to play, they are able to build their confidence. Overcoming an obstacle, developing a new skill, or embarking on a new experience all help towards building resilience and self-confidence for future endeavors.
Through unstructured play, kids are able to socialize with one another freely. They can enjoy authentic interactions that develop their social skills, and may even be able to forge lifelong friendships. Existing connections between friends and family members of different ages can also be strengthened through open, multigenerational play.
For more information on the benefits of open, unstructured play, view our play reports and whitepapers.
Playworld’s System of Play is the perfect choice to create a modular playground that maximizes the benefits of open, unstructured play. Contact your local sales representative to get started on your next project today.
